Detached ADU Design by Diagram Architecture
Diagram Architecture, working in collaboration with Diagram Design Build, Inc., has completed a detached two-story Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that demonstrates how thoughtful design can make the most of a compact footprint. The finished unit comes in at 871 square feet and offers a practical, well-organized living space.
The detached ADU includes 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, arranged across two stories in a layout that prioritizes efficiency without sacrificing livability. The open floor plan helps the space feel larger than its square footage might suggest, allowing for comfortable day-to-day living within a modest structure.
Features of the Accessory Dwelling Unit
The unit includes a number of considered design elements:
- A full-size kitchen equipped with prosumer stainless-steel appliances
- An open floor plan that supports flexible use of the living area
- Generous natural light throughout the interior
- Custom built-in closets in the bedroom spaces
These features reflect an approach to ADU design that balances function with quality, even within a smaller building envelope. The inclusion of full-size appliances and custom storage solutions points to an intent to create a genuinely usable dwelling rather than a purely utilitarian add-on structure.
Design and Build
This backyard cottage was both designed by Diagram Architecture and constructed by Diagram Design Build, Inc., meaning the project benefited from a coordinated design-build process. This type of integrated approach can help maintain design intent through the construction phase, reducing the gap between what is drawn and what is ultimately built.
As an accessory dwelling unit builder and design firm, Diagram Architecture brings architectural expertise to the ADU typology — a building category that requires careful attention to zoning constraints, site conditions, and the relationship between the new structure and any existing primary residence on the property.
This project serves as an example of what a detached ADU can offer: a self-contained living unit with its own kitchen, sleeping areas, and bathrooms, suitable for a range of uses including housing for family members or as an independent dwelling on a residential lot.
